Plans for Carlisle’s young people to have access to first class activities and facilities, based in a state of the art building, have received the support of Cumbria County Council.
At yesterday' s Cabinet meeting (July 8), councillors agreed to support a bid for £4.2 million to the Government’s ‘myplace’ fund for a Youth Zone to be built on the all weather pitch at St Aidan’s school, where the new Richard Rose Central Academy will be constructed.
The bid for the Youth Zone has been put together by the sponsors of the Richard Rose Central Academy, with the help of On Side North West, a charity established to develop youth zones in the North West.
‘myplace’ is a multi-million pound programme, targeted at responding to young people's wish to have somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to, in facilities which:
•are large, modern, and purpose built
•are accessible and affordable
•are youth led
•provide a wide range of high quality services
•have high quality and advice available on site
Any bid for ‘myplace’ money also needs the support of the local authority, and it that support that Cabinet has pledged today, along with a commitment to contribute £75,000 of the £750,000 a year running costs once the Youth Zone premises are in place.
As well as their contribution to the running costs of the Youth Zone, the Central Academy sponsors have committed £250,000 towards developing ‘satellite’ facilities in other parts of the city.
County Councillor Jim Buchanan is the Cabinet member for Children’s Wellbeing. He said:
"This is very exciting. Carlisle youth zone promises to bring great benefits for young people all over the city and the area for generations to come. There is strong support for it from all the partners.
"We are looking forward to seeing those benefits and hope to see similar bids and similar developments elsewhere in Cumbria."
The bid will now go forward to the BIG Lottery, which is administering the funding on behalf of the Government. To qualify as a 'fast track' application, the BIG Lottery needs to receive the bid by 29 July.
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